George III Neoclassical Ormolu Ice Pail Attributed to Matthew Boulton

Each urn with a cone finial, the collar carved with interlaces and a tapered fluted body on a spreading socle. Formerly with spigots. Provenance: Ginsburg & Levy, Inc., New York Bos...

A Directoire Mahogany Bergère Attributed to Georges Jacob, its curved back and padded armrests with finely carved baluster-shaped supports raised on turned front legs and sabre back legs. With a spurious Jacob stamp to back rail. The term "Directoire" refers to a historical period following the French Revolution (1789) and preceding the First Empire when Napoleon reigned, but also to a style of furniture and decoration covering a longer period from 1789 to 1804. It is characterized by the production of furniture with simplified forms and ornaments, inspired by antique decorations. The profound social and political upheavals that marked this period had a direct impact on the production of Directoire furniture. The stripping down of furniture pieces, which had begun in the 1780s under the influence of Greek art, was accentuated during this period. The abolition of guilds by the revolutionaries also forced manufacturers in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine to simplify shapes and materials. Elegant and graceful, the furniture is generally small-scale. They retain the Louis XVI structure. The Directoire style adopts clean shapes, straight lines, simple curves, flat surfaces and right angles. Lines accentuate geometric shapes inspired by Antiquity. A typical trait is the pronounced rolled-over back, similar to a scroll illustrated in our bergere, evocative of the klismos chair. Only the more luxurious pieces of furniture use mahogany, an exotic and expensive wood. Despite his humble origins, Georges Jacob rose to become one of the most renowned menuisiers of his day. Unlike many artisans who joined their fathers or brothers in the middle-class family trade of furniture making, Jacob was from a peasant family and moved to Paris at sixteen to begin his career. He apprenticed in a joinery workshop and eventually became a master in 1765. He developed a reputation for producing inventive designs for chairs, beds, and screens carved with such motifs as twisted ribbons, guilloches, beading, and fluting. Jacob's reputation grew quickly, eventually spreading outside France; the future King George IV of England, Gustavus III of Sweden, and several German princes...

The square serpentine tilt-top with a spindle gallery, above a tapering turned column raised on three cabriole legs terminating in pad feet.    

The hinged fall front opening to reveal a fitted interior with drawers above a slide enclosing a concealed well with two drawers, raised on cabriole legs headed by scrolling chutes r...

Each backplate topped with a mask of Athena surmounted by an owl and ending in a stylized bellflower and anthemion, issuing three leaf-wrapped scrolling arms. Electrified. André-Antoine Ravrio (1759-1814) was a French sculptor in bronze and was made a master founder in 1777 setting up in business 1790. Although Ravrio enjoyed success during Louis XVI’s reign, he achieved far greater fame under Napoleon. He took part in the first Exposition de l’Industrie, Paris, 1803 and then won a silver medal there in 1806. The same year he supplied a number of bronze furnishings for the Empress Joséphine’s apartments in the Tuileries and in 1810 was appointed as the Emperor’s chief bronzier. In this capicity he supplied some of the finest Empire bronze pieces, girandoles, candelabras and lamps as well as ornate furniture...

The rectangular hinged top with canted corners inlaid with a Turkish landscape design with an inside lift top and a lower drawer the interior fitted with a removable tray and mahogan...

A fine quality Georgian III period silver plated inkstand by celebrated English silversmith Matthew Boulton, displaying all of the timeless eleganc...

This remarkable Sheffield silver plate candelabrum by celebrated English silversmith Matthew Boulton displays all of the timeless elegance and style of the period. Masterfully crafte...

This is a stunning monumental pair of antique English Old Sheffield silver on copper, three light, two-branch table candelabra, circa 1790 in date, and bearing the sunburst makers ma...

Oval hinged top over a conforming brass strapped case with brass handles, raised on square tapered legs with casters. Ex Naill Smith Antiques.

Pair 18th Century Royal Worcester lidded ice pails handpainted with views of Portsmouth Harbour. This pair with acorn finials to the covers and scrolled handles either side of the bo...

Depicting a boy holding candelabra arms on a stepped circular base with guilloche decoration.